Other Tips & Logistics

Itinerary Management and Planning

Several companies have products that allow you to automatically (via confirmation message processing or direct booking) and manually store together your booking information. Both paid and free packages exist with varying options. In no particular order, a subset is as follows:

TravelMath is a website that promises to provide information on various logistical questions encountered in planning a trip, including timing, travel distances, airport information, and travel cost calculation.

Passports

U.S. citizens should visit the U.S. Department of State website to obtain the most accurate and up to date information on passports. Non-U.S. citizens should consult their home government for information on passports.

Lost or Stolen Passports

For lost or stolen passports, please contact the nearest consulate for specific instructions and procedures immediately: List of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions. Procedures vary from country to country and may involve filing police reports and other paperwork. Always keep a copy of your passport separately and leave another copy at home!

Miscellaneous Tips

If you are travelling with a Caltech-arranged program, direct any questions about paperwork to the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office. If you are travelling independently, verify far in advance that you will have all necessary visas for your travel; your travel agent may or may not assist with those issues.

The U.S. Department of State provides a registry of its embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions abroad.

Entry to foreign countries may be made more smooth by producing proof of travel plans showing the intent to leave at the end of your stay. Some countries may also require demonstration of financial wherewithal; simply showing current credit cards may suffice in some situations, but in other cases it may be necessary to show a current bank statement demonstrating the availability of funds.

International phone calls can be difficult. See CountryCodes.com for more information on this.